Game



' Sept. 22, 1959 A. J. GlANNOTTl GAME Filed Oct. 7, 1957 3 SheetsSheet 1 ALBERT J GIANNO'TTI 4 mm. g 64M 4 T TO/PNEVS p 22, 1959 A. J. GIANNOTTI 2,905,473

GAME

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7. 1957 FA I o I e o e o o o 0 o o a 0 e w o o o o 0 e o 0 0 o o a o o o INVENTOR. ALBERT J. G/ANNOT 7/ ATTORNEYS p 22, 1959 A. J. GIANNOTTI 2,905,473

GAME

Filed on. 7. 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 3 WHITE INVENTOR. ALBERT J. G/ANNOTT/ BY flay BIA, id-(1., r dun-d A TTORNEYS Unite States Patent GAME Albert J. Giaunotti, Redwood City, Calif.

v Application October 7, 1957, Serial No. 688,563

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-130) This invention relates to a game and more particularly to"a device for use in playing a game by means of physical markers and manually actuatable controls as distinguished from playing a game with pencil and paper. Although variations of the actual game given as an illustration herein will occur to users of the invention the present invention has been found to be particularly adapted for use in playing a game which has hereto-fore gained popularity, but which has been played with pencil and paper. This game, which is not claimed herein insofar as general principles of the same are concerned, has in the past been known as Battleship, Salvo and possibly by other names. However, the general object isfor one player to ascertain the exact position of his opponent's playing pieces. (such as naval vessels) on a playing field. The actual method of play will become apparent from the description made herein.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus which may be employed to play such games as Battleship, Salvo and the like so as togive the game more interest than has heretofore been possible. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a game apparatus which lends itself to coin control operation.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is efiicient and tool proof in application and which depends upon skill of the player rather than chance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the preferred form of apparatus of the present invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspectives of the playing pieces used in the game.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the indicator boards.

of one player is completely hidden from view of the other player.

However, the elongated sides 7, 8 of the cabinet 1 are provided with sliding doors 9 so that access may be gained by each player to his playing field for positioning the playing pieces to be described.

Inasmuch as the players are provided with identical equipment only one playing field and indicator board will be described in detail.

Each playing field comprises a horizontally extending plate 11 (Fig. 7) provided with a plurality of parallel rows of holes 12. Seven rows of seven holes each are indicated in the drawings giving a total of forty-nine holes but it will be understood that the exact number of holes and their arrangement may be changed as desired. The holes 12 are in staggered relationship from row to row so that all of the holes are equally spaced whether the distance between holes is taken on the parallel rows or diagonally.

The holes 12 in playing field plate 11 are adapted to receive therein the balls 13 of the playing pieces or markers 14, 15 and 16 shown in Figs. 24. These markers are similarly constructed, their only diiierence being the number of balls 13 comprising them. By the preferred form of the present invention three markers 14, 15, 16 are provided with two, three and four balls respectively although the number may vary as well as the number of markers used. The balls of each marker are spaced apart a uniform distance by means of connecting pieces 17 so that each marker is a rigid assembly and easily handled by the player.

At this point it may be explained that each player or side is provided with three markers of the type shown in Figs. 2-4 which he may arrange on his playing board with the balls 13 within holes 12 in any arrangement desired. The arrangement of markers shown in Fig. 7 is only one of an almost infinite number of possible arrangements and the object of the game is to ascertain the exact location of the opponents markers.

' As best seen in Fig. 9 a switch plate 20 is provided under the playing field plate 11 and may be secured thereto in spaced relationship by spacers 21;. Corresponding to each hole 12 in plate 11 is a normally open switch Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cabinet In detail, the invention is preferably built into a cabinet generally designated 1 and provided with four legs 2.

The game is adapted for use by two players, one being stationed at station A and the other at station B (Fig. 5). On top of the cabinet 1 are a pair of indicator boards generally designated 3 each being viewable by the players at their respective stations.

On the bottom of the cabinet 1 and directly under the boards 3 are a pair of horizontally disposed playing fields generally designated 4, and the cabinet 1 is divided in two parts by a central partition 5 so that the playing board 22 which is closed by the weight of a ball 13 so that the presence of the ball is detected in a manner to be described.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 8 the indicator board preferably comprises a glass or plastic transparent or semitransparent pane 25 which is provided with a plurality of holes for receiving therethrough switch plungers 26. Mounted below the pane 25 is a base plate on which is mounted a plurality of pairs of electric bulbs 28, 29 around each pair of which is a shield 30 which has the etfect of localizing the light from the bulbs 23, 29 to a relatively small area of pane 25 surrounding plunger 26. Bulbs 23, 29 are dissimilar in color, say red and white respectively.

Mounted on the underside of base plate 27 and adapted to be actuated by switch plunger 26 is a two-way switch generally designated 32. Switch 32 is the type having a central contact arm 33 connected to a lead .34 which in turn is connected to a source of power (Fig. 10). Upper and lower contact arms 35', 36 are provided which are in turn connected to leads 3?, 38 respectively.

' A U-shaped spring actuator 40 connects central contact arm 33 with an operating lever 41 which is adapted to be depressed by plunger 26. As shown in the normal position in Fig. 8 the lead 34 isconnected to lead 38 by the depressed contact 42 on arm 33; however, upon depression of lever 41 by plunger 26 the contact arm 33 is swung up by virtue of the toggle action of spring 40 so as to connect lead 34 with lead 37. Further depression of Patented Sept. 22, 1959 p un er 25 has .0 efi t on i ch 32 u t the switch 32 is reset.

For the purpose of resetting switch 32 a restoring solenoid is provided secured to the underside of base plate 21;. The, actuating 46 of solenoid'45 swings up upon energizing said solenoid restoring the switch32 to the position shown in Fig. 8 It will be understood that for each hole 12 in the playing field of one player there is a switch 22 actuatable by a ball and a pair of light bulbs 28, 29 together with their associated switch 32 and re. setting solenoid 45. Referring now to the wiring of Fig. 10, the various circuits connecting the playing field switches of one player with the indicator board of the opponent are preferred ens ergiaed by a low voltage current, say six volts, and a transtormer .48 may be connected to the line wires 49, 50 for this purpose. The usual fuse 51 and line switch 52 may be provided as indicated.

.Lead 34 (Fig. 8) is connected to one side of trans? former 48 and a lead 53 connects the other side of the transformer with the two bulbs 28, 29 (Fig. 10).

Red bulb 28 is connected by lead 54 with the playing field switch 22 and a circuit is completed through switch 32 provided the switch plunger 26 has been actuated. White bulb 29 is connected by lead 38 above described to switch 32 and, until switch plunger 26 is depressed said bulb 29 is energized because switch 32 normally closes the connection with lead 38. A reset switch 57 is inserted in leads 58, 59 which in turn connect the reset solenoid to the power lines 49, 50. Only one switch 57 is required but it will be understood that, aside from the transformer 48 the circuit shown in Fig. 10 is duplicated as many times as there are holes 12 in the playing field 1 1. In other words forty-nine circuits are required for each combination of playing field and indicator board. or a total of ninety-eight circuits.

In operation, play of the game is commenced by closing reset switch 57 which energizes the ninety-eight reset solenoids 45 thus energizing all of the white bulbs and dis-. connecting all of the red bulbs that may be energized.

At this point the indicator board of each player shows forty-nine white lights, one for each hole 12 of the opponents playing field. By opening the door 9 in the cabinet 1 that is on his side of the cabinet each player may arrange the three playing pieces 14, 15, 16 in any arrangement desired, such as the arrangement of Fig. 7. This has the effect of closing nine of the playing field switches 22 on each playing field.

Actual play may now be commenced with the players taking turns depressing switch plungers 26. If it is assumed that the first'player depresses plunger 26 corresponding to a hole 12 on the other players playing field which does not contain a ball 13 the white light associated with the depressed plunger goes out, because switch 22 is open, registering the fact that one turn has been taken. However, if the switch 32 actuated by the particular depressed plunger 26 corresponds to a hole 12 which contains a ball 13, then that fact is registered by the white light 29 going out and the red light 28 being energized. This not only registers the fact that a turn has been taken but also that the acting player has located at least a portion of one of his opponents markers. The preferred rules of the game should then permit the acting player ,to immediately take another turn and attempt to locate the remainder of the particular marker. If, on the next attempt, a red light is not energized, the other player takes his turn, and so on.

It will be understood that the circuits are connected in such a manner that, when the game is completed by one player scoring hits on all of the nine occupied spaces of his opponents playing field, the red lights showing on his board correspond in position from his point of view with the location of the balls 13 on. his opponents playing field firom the opponents point of view.

3. ,Aiter one game, is completed .fllhe. resetswitch, 57:

, 4 tuated so as to return all switches 32 to the position energizing all of the white bulbs and another game may then be commenced.

If desired, the reset switch 57 may be actuated by a conventional coin control apparatus (not shown) and for this purpose a coin receiving slot 59 (Fig. 5) may be provided on the top of cabinet 1. In addition, a conventional timer (not shown) may also be provided in the electrical system for the purpose of shutting ofi the entire device after a certain period of time which should be long enough to permit a complete game to be played with ease. a

The game played as above described has been found to be considerably more entertaining than other games of like nature because competition between two players is involved and success in the game resides to a great ex-- tent on skill and psychology in determining the positions of the opponents markers.

It will be apparent that other variations in design may be resorted to without departing (from the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A game comprising a playing field and an indicator board remote from said playing field, a marker, said playing field being formed with a plurality of holes each adapted to receive said marker therein, a marker switch positioned under each of said holes and adapted. to be. closed by the weight of said marker, said indicator board. comprising a plurality of manually actuatable switches corresponding in position to the position of said holes in said playing field, a pair of different colored bulbs positioned adjacent each of said manually actuatableswitches, a first electrical circuit; connecting one of said bulbs with a source of electrical power and a second electrical cir cuit connecting the other of said bulbs with said marker switch and with said source of electrical power, said mane ually actuatable switch being adapted to be moved from a position closing said first circuit and illuminating. said one bulb to a position opening said first circuit and clos ing said second circuit whereby said other bulb is energized if said marker switch is closed.

2. A game comprising first and second playing sta-jtions, first and second playing fields and first ands'ec 0nd indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first and second stations, each of said fields. comprising a plurality of field switches each adapted to be actuated selectively by a player, each of said boards comprising a plurality of indicators with the indicators of the board of one station corresponding in position respectively: to the switches on the field of the other station, electrical circuits connecting each of said indicators with their corresponding switches, means for energizing said circuits, means for manually actuating each-of the indicatorson the board of one station to a position completing the circuit thercofwhen the corresponding switch on the field of the other station is closed, and means on each of said indicators for indicating completion of such circuit.

3. A game comprising first and second playing stations, first, and second playing fields and firstand. secand indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first andvsecond stations, each of said fields comprising a plurality of field switches each adapted to be closed selectively by means under the control of a player, each of said boards comprising a plurality of indicator lights with the lights on the board of one station corresponding in position respectively with the switches on the-field of the other station, electrical circuits connecting each of said lights with their corresponding switches, meanstor supplying electrical energy to each of said'circuits, man ually actuatable switches adjacent each of said lightstor completing their corresponding circuits and torthere by-lighting the corresponding light when the field switch of such circuit is closed.

4. A game comprising first and second playing :stations, first andsecond playing fields and first andses ond indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first and second stations, a marker for use by a player, each of said fields comprising a plurality of marker switches each adapted to be closed by a player by means of said marker, each of said boards comprising a plurality of pairs of playing lights and registering lights of different color with the lights of each pair arranged to illuminate substantially the same portion of the indicator board, the portions of the board of one station each being arranged in a position corresponding to the position of a corresponding switch on the field of the other station, a normally open indicating circuit connecting each registering light with its corresponding switch and a normally closed playing circuit for each of said playing lights, means for energizing said circuits, means actuatable by a player for simultaneously breaking the playing circuit and closing the registering circuit of any one of said registering circuits as desired whereby the registering light is energized when its corresponding field switch is closed.

5. A game comprising first and second playing stations, first and second playing fields and first and second indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first and second stations, a marker for use by a player, each of said fields comprising a plurality of marker switches each adapted to be closed by a player by means of said marker, each of said boards comprising a plurality of pairs of playing lights and registering lights of different color with the lights of each pair arranged to illuminate substantially the same portion of the indicator board, the portions of the board of one station each being arranged in a position corresponding to the position of a corresponding switch on the field of the other station, a normally open indicating circuit connecting each registering light with its corresponding switch and a normally closed playing circuit for each of said playing lights, means for energizing said circuits, means actuatable by a player for simultaneously breaking the playing circuit and closing the registering circuit of any one of said registering circuits as desired whereby the registering light is energized when its corresponding field switch is closed, each of said playing fields comprising a horizontally extending sheet provided with holes each adapted to receive said marker therein and with said playing markers positioned under said sheet in a position to be closed by the weight of such marker.

6. A game comprising first and second playing stations, first and second playing fields and first and second indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first and second stations, a marker for use by a player, each of said fields comprising a plurality of marker switches adapted to be closed by a player by means of said marker, each of said boards comprising a plurality of pairs of playing lights and registering lights of diiferent color with the lights of each pair arranged to illuminate substantially the same portion of the indicator board, the portions of the board of one station each being arranged in a position corresponding to the position of a corresponding switch on the field of the other station,

a normally open indicating circuit connecting each registering light with its corresponding switch and a normally closed playing circuit for each of said playing lights, means for energizing said circuits, means actuat able by a player for simultaneously breaking the playing circuit and closing the registering circuit of any one of said registering circuits as desired whereby the registering light is energized when its corresponding field switch is closed, each of said playing fields comprising a horizontally extending sheet provided with holes each adapted to receive said marker therein and with said playing markers positioned under said sheet in a position to be closed by the weight of such marker, and each of said indicator boards comprising a sheet of light transmitting material with said lights positioned on one side thereof.

7. A game comprising first and second playing stations, first and second playing fields and first and second indicator boards corresponding respectively to said first and second stations, a marker for use by a player, each of said fields comprising a plurality of marker switches adapted to be closed by a player by means of said marker, each of said boards comp-rising a plurality of pairs of playing lights and registering lights of difierent color with the lights of each pair arranged to illuminate substantially the same portion of the indicator board, the portions of the board of one station each being arranged in a position corresponding to the position of a corresponding switch on the field of the other station, a normally open indicating circuit connecting each registering light with its corresponding switch and a normally closed playing circuit for each of said playing lights, means for energizing said circuits, means actuatable by a player for simultaneously breaking the playing circuit and closing the registering circuit of any one of said registering circuits as desired whereby the registering light is energized when its corresponding field switch is closed, each of said playing fields comprising a horizontally extending sheet provided with holes adapted to receive said marker therein and with said playing markers positioned under said sheet in a position to be closed by the weight of such marker, and each of said indicator boards comprising a sheet of light transmitting material with said lights positioned on one side thereof, said means actuatable by a player comprising a switch plunger extending through said sheet from said one side to the opposite side thereof and adapted to be depressed by the finger of a player.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,583 Nelson July 13, 1909 2,053,598 Blau S pt. 8, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,749 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1930 41,216 Netherlands July 15, 1937 471,041 Italy May 2, 1952 

